Movie Blog

Hello and welcome to the movie blog of author John DeFrank - FilmZ and Guy Sobriquet Malone - Researcher

Below are my picks for the 88th Academy Awards, to be presented on Sunday, February 28, 2016.As always, we have thumbnail sketch of the contenders in each category, followed by my predicted winner, and in some cases, the film or individual(s) I think should win.

BEST PICTURE:

In the hottest horse race of recent Oscar years The Revenant—Academy leader with a whopping 12 nominations—is the front-runner.It is, however, more to be appreciated than enjoyed: visually dazzling, but unremittingly grim and violent, and, essentially, a revenge movie.It does have an advantage over its closest competitors: The Big Shortand Spotlight in that they are social-issue movies which, for that reason, could split votes, allowing The Revenant to slip in for the win.Mad Max: Fury Road came in second with ten nominations, but it is more likely to win technical awards.Room, is a respected little film that could shock.The remaining films—Bridge of Spies, Brooklyn,and The Martian—as good as they are they won’t win.

Will win:The Revenant

Should win:The Big Short, Bridge of Spies, or Spotlight.

DIRECTOR:

Another tough call, this time between two: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (The Revenant) and George Miller (Mad Max: Fury Road).Inarritu, who won last year for Birdman, hopes to become the first director in 65 years to win two years in a row.Miller’s film sprung totally from his imagination and was brought to the screen with minimal CGI. The other nominees—Lenny Abramson (Room), Tom McCarthy (Spotlight), Adam McKay (The Big Short)—can relax and drink champagne.

Will win:Alejandro G. Inarritu, The Revenant

Should win: George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road

ACTOR:

Leonardo DiCaprio has been better in several films, but he has never sacrificed so much for a role as he did for The Revenant.Besides, everyone feels Leo is due.The other performances—Brian Cranston, (Trumbo), Matt Damon (The Martian), Michael Fassbender (Steve Jobs), and Eddie Redmayne (The Danish Girl)—were very good, but Leo is pre-ordained.

Will win and should win: Leonardo DiCaprio

ACTRESS:

In a category stocked with excellent performances, Brie Larson, as “Ma” in Room, has been the clear frontrunner since September.Possible spoiler is Saoirse Ronan as the young Irish immigrant in the charming indie, Brooklyn.Powerful perennial contenders Cate Blanchett (Carol) and Jennifer Lawrence (Joy) are unlikely winners because both won Oscars in recent years—2014 and 2013, respectively.Respected veteran Charlotte Rampling’s recognition for 45 Years is in the nomination.

Will win:Brie Larson

Should win: Brie Larson or Saoirse Ronan

SUPPORTING ACTOR:

Until recently, this had been one of the most competitive fields.Each actor—Christian Bale (The Big Short), Tom Hardy (The Revenant), Mark Ruffalo (Spotlight), Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies), and Sylvester Stallone (Creed)—garnering significant support.Lately, though, Stallone has punched his way to the top with a string of precursor awards.Should he win, it will be the first time an actor has won the Oscar twice for playing the same character.Considering the practice he has had over the years, it hardly seems fair.

Will win: Sylvester Stallone, Creed

Should win: Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies

SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

An icon in Kate Winslet (Steve Jobs), a comeback kid in Jennifer Jason Leigh (The Hateful Eight), a surprise in Rachel McAdams (Spotlight), and two leads misplaced as Supporting in Rooney Mara (Carol), and Alicia Vikander (The Danish Girl).Favorites are respected veteran Winslet and up-and-comer Vikander, who worked on six films this past year, including another award winner as an android in Ex Machina.

Will win and should win: Alicia Vikander

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:

Five diverse contenders: Cold War-era prisoner swap intrigue of Bridge of Spies, claustrophobic sci-fi suspense of Ex Machina, animated working of a young girl’s mind of Inside Out, crime-busting investigative journalists of Spotlight, and the controversial hagiographical origins of NWA in Straight Outta Compton.It should come down toSpotlight or Inside Out, but

Will win and should win: Spotlight, Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy.

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:

Four of the five films in this category—The Big Short, Brooklyn, The Martian, andRoom—are nominated for Best Picture.The fifth, Carol, the 1950s-set story of forbidden love between a shop girl and a beautiful older woman, still enjoyed six other Oscar nominations and critical acclaim.All are worthy, but only one explains esoteric details of a financial tragedy in a clear, humorous way.

Should win and will win: The Big Short—Charles Randolph, AdamMcKay.From Michael Lewis’s book.

CINEMATOGRAPHY:

It seemed Sicario’s Roger Deakins would finally win after 13 Oscar nominations.Then came Emmanuel Lubezki’s work on The Revenant, and it became clear that he will win for the third year in a row (Gravity in 2015 and Birdman in 2015).Of all The Revenant’s nominations, this is the one that is most deserved.Carol’s colorful rendering of the early 1950s, the 70mm IMAX treatment of The Hateful Eight, and the imaginative chase of Mad Max: Fury Road are relegated to also-ran status.

Will win and should win: The Revenant—Emmanuel Lubezki

FILM EDITING:

This category goes a long was toward determining our understanding of a film, as well as its flow and whether or not we are checking our watches, even during an otherwise terrific film.At times, The Revenant, for all of its action, plods, and Star Wars: TFAbattles seem interminable.On the other hand, Spotlight’s methodical investigation is lean and well paced.But the top contenders here are Mad Max: Fury Road, a never-a-dull-moment race from beginning to end; and The Big Short, its ebb and flow and changes of pace following Swill clock precision.

Will win:Mad Max: Fury Road

Should win:The Big Short

FILM SCORE:

Movie scores work hand-in-hand with cinematography and editing to create the atmosphere the director intends, and each nominee here stands out: the bittersweet, romantic strains in Carol; the slow-boil intrigue of Bridge of Spies; the thrumming, gut-wrenching unease in Sicario; the wry, twanging Western edge of The Hateful Eight.I take issue with John Williams’ excellent Star Wars: TFA because it has a “been there, done that” feel that has already been awarded.Look to six-time nominee Ennio Morricone, the Italian who makes iconic Western music FTW.

Will win and should win: The Hateful Eight—Ennio Morricone

And in other categories:

COSTUME DESIGN:Will win/should win: Cinderella

MAKEUP AND HAIR:Will win/should win:Mad Max: Fury Road

PRODUCTION DESIGN:Will win/should win:Mad Max: Fury Road

BEST SONG:Will win/should win: “Til it Happens to You” from The HuntingGroundDiane Warren and Lady Gaga